Lookup with any number of criteria
This article demonstrates a formula that allows you to search a data set using any number of conditions, however, one condition per column. The search functionality matches the entire value in a cell, no wildcard matches.
It also demonstrates how to extract the records using the Advanced Filter. The Advanced Filter is a built-in Excel feature that allows you to do more complicated filtering than the regular Filter feature or an Excel Table can accomplish.
What's on this page
Rashid asks:I used your array formula with great success to find the search results from multiple criteria. However, my problem is modifying your formula. In the above example you have shown us, you have two criteria. And you distinguish the two criteria by using *.
My question is: what would you do if you don't know the predetermined number of criteria. So let's say the person searching only specifies security and not date. Or only date, and not security. Or maybe both. The problem is you don't know from beforehand.
How would you go about solving this problem?
Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks so much!!
The animated image above shows different conditions being used and how the formula instantly returns records that match. It also shows that you can use multiple conditions to narrow down the results. The data is located on worksheet Sheet2.
Formula in cell B8:
This formula requires you to enter it as an array formula if you have an older Excel version than an Excel 365 subscription, the steps to enter an array formula are below.
This formula does not spill values automatically if needed, you have to type the formula in a cell and then press enter. Copy the cell and paste to adjacent cells below and to the right as far as needed.
How to enter an array formula
- Select cell B8
- Type the above array formula
- Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT
- Press Enter
- Release all keys
If you got it right, there is now a { before the array formula and a } after the array formula.
How to copy array formula
- Copy cell B8
- Paste to C8:E8
- Copy cell range B8:E8
- Paste to cell range B9:E19
Explaining the array formula in cell B8
The image above shows the data on worksheet Sheet2, it contains random names, countries and dates.
I recommend the "Evaluate Formula" feature if you want to see the formula calculations in greater detail.
- Select the cell containing the formula you want to learn.
- Go to tab "Formulas" on the ribbon.
- Press with left mouse button on the "Evaluate Formula" button. A dialog box appears.
- Press with left mouse button on the "Evaluate" button to move to next calculation step.
- Press with left mouse button on "Close" to dismiss the dialog box.
Step 1 - Count the number of cells in each table column that meet the criteria and add the arrays
The COUNTIF function counts values based on a condition or criteria. There are four COUNTIF functions, as many as there are columns in the data set.
The returning arrays are added together, this means we apply OR logic to the result meaning if any of the values in the same position are one the result is one or more.
COUNTIF($B$4, Sheet2!$A$2:$A$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$C$4, Sheet2!$B$2:$B$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$D$4, Sheet2!$C$2:$C$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$E$4, Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)
becomes
{0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0})+{0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0}+{0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0}+{0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0}
and returns
{0;0;2;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0}
This means that row 3 (relative row) matches two conditions. Why is that? 2 is the third value in the array.
Step 2 - Count the number of criteria matching and compare with each value in the array above
The IF function has three arguments, the first one must be a logical expression. If the expression evaluates to TRUE then one thing happens (argument 2) and if FALSE another thing happens (argument 3).
IF(COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)=(COUNTIF($B$4, Sheet2!$A$2:$A$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$C$4, Sheet2!$B$2:$B$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$D$4, Sheet2!$C$2:$C$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$E$4, Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), MATCH(ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21), ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), "")
becomes
IF(2={0;0;2;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0}, MATCH(ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21), ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), "")
becomes
IF(2={0;0;2;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0}, {1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20}, "")
becomes
IF({FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE; FALSE}, {1;2;3;4;5; 6;7;8;9;10; 11;12;13;14; 15;16;17;18;19;20}, "")
and returns
{"";"";3;""; "";"";"";"";""; "";"";"";"";"";""; "";"";"";"";""}
Step 3 - Find the k-th smallest row number
To be able to return a new value in a cell each I use the SMALL function to filter column numbers from smallest to largest.
SMALL(IF(COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)=(COUNTIF($B$4, Sheet2!$A$2:$A$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$C$4, Sheet2!$B$2:$B$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$D$4, Sheet2!$C$2:$C$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$E$4, Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), MATCH(ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21), ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), ""), ROW(A1))
becomes
SMALL({"";"";3;""; "";"";"";"";""; "";"";"";"";"";""; "";"";"";"";""}, ROW(A1))
and returns 3.
Step 4 - Return corresponding value from data table on sheet 2
The INDEX function returns a value based on a cell reference and column/row numbers.
INDEX(Sheet2!$A$2:$D$21, SMALL(IF(COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)=(COUNTIF($B$4, Sheet2!$A$2:$A$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$C$4, Sheet2!$B$2:$B$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$D$4, Sheet2!$C$2:$C$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$E$4, Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), MATCH(ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21), ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), ""), ROW(A1)), COLUMN(A1))
becomes
INDEX(Sheet2!$A$2:$D$21, 3, COLUMN(A1))
becomes
INDEX(Sheet2!$A$2:$D$21, 3, 1)
and returns Keisha.
Step 5 - Check if there are more than 0 (zero) citeria
The COUNTA function counts the non-empty or blank cells in a cell range.
COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)<>0
becomes
2<>0
and returns TRUE
Step 6 - Return value if there are more than zero criteria
IF(COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)<>0, INDEX(Sheet2!$A$2:$D$21, SMALL(IF(COUNTA($B$4:$E$4)=(COUNTIF($B$4, Sheet2!$A$2:$A$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$C$4, Sheet2!$B$2:$B$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$D$4, Sheet2!$C$2:$C$21)+COUNTIF(Sheet1!$E$4, Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), MATCH(ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21), ROW(Sheet2!$D$2:$D$21)), ""), ROW(A1)), COLUMN(A1)), "")
becomes
IF(TRUE, "Keisha", "")
and returns "Keisha" in cell B8.
Lookup with an unknown number of criteria [Advanced Filter]
The image above shows the filtered data in-place using a condition on row 3. It uses Excel's built-in feature named Advanced Filter.
There are no formulas in this example. I made room for conditions above the data list. I copied the header names to a row above the data.
Here is how to set it up.
- Go to tab "Data" on the ribbon.
- Press with left mouse button on the "Advanced" button. A dialog box appears.
- You can filter the list in-place or copy to another location. I chose to filter in-place.
- The list range lets you select the data you want to filter.
Note, select the column header names as well.
- Select your criteria in "The Criteria range:". Don't forget to include your column header names.
- Press with left mouse button on OK button.
The image above shows the filtered list, the colored row numbers indicate that the list is filtered. Press with left mouse button on the "Clear" button on the ribbon to delete the filter, all data will be visible again.
I recommend you check out the Advanced Filter category if this feature is interesting for you.
Excel Table and slicers
The image above shows the data set converted to an Excel Table and four slicers above the Excel Table. Slicers were introduced in Excel version 2010.
They allow you to quickly filter data by press with left mouse button oning on values in the slicer. You can only use slicers with Excel Tables and Pivot Tables, however, both Excel Tables and Slicers are really easy to create. Let us begin creating an Excel Table.
How to convert a data set to an Excel Table
- Select any cell in the data set.
- Press CTRL + T to open the "Create Table" dialog box. See image above.
- Enable checkbox "My Table has headers" if true.
- Press with left mouse button on OK button.
How to create Slicers
- Select any cell in the Excel Table. A new tab named "Table Design" appears on the ribbon.
- Go to tab "Table Design" on the ribbon.
- Press with left mouse button on "Insert Slicers" button. A dialog box appears, see image above. Press with left mouse button on checkboxes to insert a slice for each, the names next to checkboxes are column header names.
- Press with left mouse button on OK button.
- Excel inserts a slicer for each selected checkbox.
- Move and resize each slicer.
How to select, move and resize slicers
Press with left mouse button on with left mouse button on a slicer you want to select. A selected slicer shows sizing handles. They are white circles that appear on each corner and side.
Press and hold CTRL key and then press with left mouse button on multiple slicers to select them. Selected slicers have sizing handles visible.
To move a slicing handle press and hold on a selected slicer and then drag with mouse to a new location. Release left mouse button to let go.
To resize a slicers press and hold on any sizing handle, then drag with mouse to resize.
Recommended articles
- Use slicers to filter data (Microsoft)
- Filter by using advanced criteria (Microsoft)
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4 Responses to “Lookup with any number of criteria”
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Hi Oscar,
This is great and compliments your Multiple Criteria and Multiple Matches series of posts very well. However I have been trying to modify the array formulas in the 3rd and 4th posts of that series to cope with wildcard searches or part cell matches and thought this post may help but not so far unfortunately.
I have tried numerous approaches but can't seem to get a multiple criteria series of "searches" (or counts) to work with anything but exact data.
I'm trying to search for part of a serial number e.g.(A110 within a string A110E12694369020 as one of my search inputs. In this case it is always the first 4 digits but I'd like to be able to input just A1 or *A1* into a search cell and not rely on reviewing the first 4 characters as this is not always the result for these serial numbers.
I'm also looking for items with corresponding dates equal or before a certain due date search string - your 4th post to Lookup-with-multiple-criteria-and-display-multiple-search-results-using-excel-formula-part-4-john helped me resolve this criteria though.
Finally I'm trying another 'wildcard' search and to find FSS (or *FSS*) OR the exact inverse of this - so NOT containing FSS (or *FSS*) - and both of these search criteria are proving elusive to me.
All the data I have is in a large table but I'm not sure if I can alter it to be an Excel Table (which might help), as it is in a sheet that is deleted and replaced by an irregular macro from another workbook and this may corrupt a Table setup(?). It can not be a Pivot as the data is in a shared workbook and Pivot Tables do not update when in shared documents - hence the Array solution I am trying to develop. I have successfully named the columns of ranges I need though without loosing them on an update of data.
To summarise - I'd like to search by some form of wildcard; *app* to return a positive result for "apple" and to search for the opposite; have a criteria that would exclude "apple" using soemthing like *app*
Although I have around 80 columns I'm just looking to return the serial number in say Column A based on these multiple criteria; Col B <= a date, Col C does NOT contain a wildcard string *whatever*, Col D DOES contain a different wildcard string, Col E EXACTLY equals a third search string etc. I am happy to build up the criteria to more columns beyond this if I can resolve the NOT and the wildcard elements.
I'd really appreciate some further pointers, thanks Oscar!
Dear Oscar,
Ned Help!
How we can modify the above formula? as...
(the above example has 4 cols in Sheet2 and 4 criteria's to be searched in Sheet1 i.e. same No. of columns in both sheets and output is of same i.e. 4 cols)
What if we have 6 columns in data table in Sheet2 but same number of criteria i.e. 4 in sheet1 and we want to return the whole set of data from Sheet2 based on the criteria provided.
Thanks for your time and understanding.
Qadeer
Hello Mr Oscar,
I have the matter to create a megaformula to categorize my list. For short example:
A1: Cash in deposit (Branch A t/t)
A2: Borrowed from Corp. A
A3: Interest payment
A4: Int.panalty pmt
A5: Prin. Pmt
A6: Salary Pmt on April
A7: Sales abroad
A8: Branch C t/t
A9: Transferred from Company AA
A10: Mortgages to DD ltd
A11: Sal. Pmt on May
and at B1 cell, I create a formula as follows:
=IF(COUNT(SEARCH({"branch","corp.", "company"},A1))>0,"Precol.", IF(COUNT(SEARCH({"interest","int.", "prin."},A1))>0,"lo.",IF(COUNT(SEARCH("sales",A1))>0, "Sa.",IF(COUNT(SEARCH({"sal.", "Salary","wage","payroll"}, A1))>0,"Se.", "Others"))))
But, my formula is too long and too many parentheses.
I want to shorten this formula or replace by another. But how?
Could you please to solve my question?
Thank you very much.
Hung
Minh Hung
Thank you for your comment, I believe I have an answer for you:
https://www.get-digital-help.com/2017/07/07/nested-search/